One supporter, Vaughan Smith, a former army captain, provided his ten-bedroom house, Ellingham Hall, on his 600-acre Suffolk estate as Assange’s bail address along with £20,000 against him absconding.

But confusion surrounded the outcome of the decision as the Swedish authorities, where Assange is wanted to face sex charges, debated whether to appeal against the decision. In the end, the Australian, who has angered many in power by leaking hundreds of thousands of politically damaging documents, spent another night in prison.

Outside City of Westminster magistrates’ court, Assange’s solicitor Mark Stephens said: ‘Finally, after two hours we have heard that the Swedes will not abide with the umpire’s decision and they want to put Mr Assange through yet more trouble, more expense and more hurdles.

‘They clearly will not spare any expense to keep Mr Assange in jail. This is really turning into a show trial. We will be in court again in the next 48 hours.’

His celebrity supporters, including Bianca Jagger, socialite Jemima Khan and campaigning journalist John Pilger, decried the delay to his freedom.

Gemma Lindfield, for the Swedish authorities, argued there was a serious risk of Assange fleeing the country. Assange is accused of having unprotected sex with a woman, identified only as Miss A, when she insisted he use a condom.

He is also accused of having unprotected sex with another woman, Miss W, while she was asleep.